Cable TV

DAS cases put off to 23 Nov as legal processes incomplete

03 Nov, 2016 - 02:15 PM IST | By B B Nagpal

NEW DELHI: All legal cases related to third phase of Digital Addressable System (DAS), listed before a division bench headed by Justice G Rohini of Delhi High Court, have been adjourned to 23 November 2016.

The bench comprising Justice G Rohini and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal did not hear the various cases as it was informed that some legal processes relating to the cases had not been completed. Earlier on 18 October 2016, the division bench had taken cognisance of all cases that challenged any constitutional norms.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva had issued notice in September on two more petitions --- filed by Om Systems of Mumbai and Digiana--- related to Phase III of DAS. The cases also include an application by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation for being impleaded in the case.

Earlier, on 26 September 2016, the division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal had held that two matters, filed by Indusind Media & Communication Ltd and Bhima Riddhi Digital Services, were challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act, 1923 as amended by Maharashtra Entertainment Duty (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014 and not the validity of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012.

The Supreme Court had on 1 April 2016 this year accepted the plea of the Central Government that “it would be just and proper” to transfer to Delhi High Court all cases pending in different High Courts, many of which had given injunction orders.

A total of 62 cases had been filed by some multi-system operators (MSOs) in various courts in the country for extension in the deadline of Phase lll. Out of these 62 cases, 12 cases had been disposed of by respective courts and three cases had been withdrawn by the petitioners.